Some business operators in Kumasi have backed calls for the country’s power companies to ensure efficiency in power supply before their demands for higher tariffs are met. The owners of businesses in Ashanti regional capital are predicting doom for the national economy if electricity tariffs are increased to what proponents describe as realistic levels. They say the power crisis which has been on for over one year has already crippled businesses, and any further increase will add to production cost and kick many out of work. The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) will hold stakeholder meetings next week to review proposals by the utility companies for an upward adjustment in tariffs. Ahead of that, there have been calls by some experts for Ghanaians to pay realistic tariffs, but this has been criticized by former Chief Executive of the Volta River Authority, Charles Wereko-Brobbey, who argues efficiency in power supply should come before tariff increases. This position is supported by the business community in Kumasi. Luv FM’s Kwabena Ampratwum said businesses are getting frustrated about the ‘dumso’ power situation in the Ashanti regional captial. He reports that business men and women are complaining about low productivity as a result of the erratic power supply in the region. The business in the Ashanti regional capital believe businesses will collapse if electricity tariffs are increased under the current situation.